"Sweet Home Alabama" is racist!?!?!

[Brian Stirling]

Writer maybe but, musician? I don't think so.

Yeah, writer maybe but musician -- not a chance.

It was my memory that Sweet Home Alabama was written in response to Neil Young's "Southern Man".


Brian

 

[crashtestdummy]

"In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, now we did what we could do."



This is a reference to George Wallace, who was one of the strongest segregationists at the time. The verse on Neil Young was also a reply to his comments on race in the South.



Whether or not the song itself is racist, it celebrates an explicitly racist culture.

 

[zinfamous]

Yeah, writer maybe but musician -- not a chance.

really guys? power cords are amazing?

sure....

By the way, I like LS.

 

[Mixolydian]

That song is literally me.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Why would the police play this?

 

[Newell Steamer]

"In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, now we did what we could do."

This is a reference to George Wallace, who was one of the strongest segregationists at the time. The verse on Neil Young was also a reply to his comments on race in the South.

Whether or not the song itself is racist, it celebrates an explicitly racist culture.

Wha, wha dey do??

 

[IronWing]

It's not racist. He also references Neal Young's Strange Fruit in passing.

I don't think Neil Young ever recorded Strange Fruit.

 

[Rakehellion]

Why would the police play this?

Why would the police play any song unless it was to get a reaction from people? I didn't know cop cars were even equipped with stereos.

 

[Remobz]

"In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, now we did what we could do."



This is a reference to George Wallace, who was one of the strongest segregationists at the time. The verse on Neil Young was also a reply to his comments on race in the South.



Whether or not the song itself is racist, it celebrates an explicitly racist culture.

I always felt that it glorified a backward racist Southern culture.

 

[madoka]

"In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, now we did what we could do."



This is a reference to George Wallace, who was one of the strongest segregationists at the time.

In 1975, Van Zant said: "The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn't notice the words 'Boo! Boo! Boo!' after that particular line, and the media picked up only on the reference to the people loving the governor."

 

[Drako]

Too bad we can't ask Ronnie Van Zant what he really meant by those lyrics. :hmm:

 

[SAWYER]

The white blame/self hate and guilt is out of control

 

[Brian Stirling]

I don't think Neil Young ever recorded Strange Fruit.

Not sure where the reference to Strange Fruit and Neil Young came from but the song, about lynching of blacks, was from Billie Holiday back in the late 30's.

Lynyrd Skynyrd was popular back in the 70's and managed to crossover to the northern rock fans -- they were a major part of the southern rock set that was largely started by the Allman Brothers. To this day I think the greatest live album ever recorded was there album Live at the Filmore East. They managed to produce, live, an album as free of errors and mistakes as just about any studio album -- astonishing really.


Brian

 

[zinfamous]

I don't think Neil Young ever recorded Strange Fruit.

yeah, I wasn't sure about that one, as I always thought it was a reference to "Southern Man," not some Billie Holiday song.

Not sure where the reference to Strange Fruit and Neil Young came from but the song, about lynching of blacks, was from Billie Holiday back in the late 30's.

Brian

The entire first verse is a direct call-out to Neil Young b/c Van Zant was dismayed at Young's portrayal of southern culture in what was, then, a very popular tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVRxdPWV3RM

But yeah, I think "Strange Fruit" in that post came from...well, I don't know where.

 

[Markbnj]

In 1975, Van Zant said: "The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn't notice the words 'Boo! Boo! Boo!' after that particular line, and the media picked up only on the reference to the people loving the governor."

Not only that, but what was 'We all did what we could do' supposed to mean? As for the poke at Neil Young, I don't know what they ever had to say about that in the years afterward (too few, unfortunately), but it isn't enough to make the song racist.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I don't think Neil Young ever recorded Strange Fruit.

You're right, it was Southern Man.

 

[Majcric]

No, but "Daddy's Hands" by Holly Dunn is at least partially about child abuse.

LMAO!!

 

[poofyhairguy]

Wiki's just his window on the world.

Wikipedia is the only reason I know so much about comic books.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Wikipedia is the only reason I know so much about comic books.

The problem is that instead of being one of many sources, it has become the ONLY source by lazy folks who wrongly believe facts are independent of the context they're described in.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The problem is that instead of being one of many sources, it has become the ONLY source by lazy folks who wrongly believe facts are independent of the context they're described in.

That is why I use it for comic book knowledge, because if I am wrong about some 1970's Iron Man plot twist when I am lecturing people for loving the movie with no knowledge of the comics who really is harmed?

 

[MongGrel]

yeah, I wasn't sure about that one, as I always thought it was a reference to "Southern Man," not some Billie Holiday song.

I'm pretty positive it was.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That is why I use it for comic book knowledge, because if I am wrong about some 1970's Iron Man plot twist when I am lecturing people for loving the movie with no knowledge of the comics who really is harmed?

In your specific use, no one. I just have a problem with 'youts' who think wiki is some kind of Universal Encyclopedia. That coupled with the common affliction of youts everywhere ie. if it happened before I was born it's irrelevant, makes for a disheartening view of the future. Most adults survive being youts but, never having learned how to learn, raises visions of idiocracy.

 

[Ruptga]

Settle down old man, you'll bust a hip. I had a simple choice: type out a paragraph or two of recap as best as I remembered it, or reference something else. I chose the one that was more accurate, faster, and easier. Clearly, this is a sign of the apocalypse and we will soon be chest deep in youts and half-filled drool cups.

 

[mistercrabby]

It's not racist. He also references Neal Young's Strange Fruit in passing.

Correct

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Settle down old man, you'll bust a hip. I had a simple choice: type out a paragraph or two of recap as best as I remembered it, or reference something else. I chose the one that was more accurate, faster, and easier. Clearly, this is a sign of the apocalypse and we will soon be chest deep in youts and half-filled drool cups.

Too late!